Device for withdrawing and separating the liquid contents of the crank-case of an internal-combustion engine.



W. JAY.

DEVICE FOR WITHDRAWING AND SEPARATING THE LIQUID CONTENTS OF THE CRANKCASE OF AN INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE.

A PPLICATION man FEB. 7. 1917.

Patented Aug. 7, 19 17.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WEBB JAY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

DEVICE EOB WITHDRAWING AND SEPARATING THE LIQUID CONTENTS OF THE CRANK-CASE OF AN INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINE. I

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 7, 1917.

Application filed February 7, 1917. Serial No. 147,227.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WEBB JAY, a citizen of the United States, residingat Chicago, in the countyof Cook and State of Illinois, have inventednew and useful Improvements in Devices for Withdrawing and Separatmg theLiquid Contents of the Crank-Cases of Internal-Combustion Engines, ofwhich the following is a specification, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, forming a part thereof.

The purpose of this; invention is to provide an improved device adaptedfor the purpose of withdrawing liquid fuel from the crank case of aninternal combustion engine when for any reason such liquid fuel hasaccumulated therein by passing the plstons, said device being adaptedalso for withdrawing lubricating oil from the crank case for the purposeof filtering and cleansing the same and returning it thereto. Itconsists in the elements and features of construction shown anddescribed, as indicated in the claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic presentation of the several elementsconstituting and concerned in the operation of this invention, in theirrelation to the engine of an automobile. Fig. 2 is avertical axialsection of the receptacle which constitutes the essential part of thisinvention together with its appurtenances.

Fig. 3 is a section at the line, 33, on Fig. 2. M The drawings show inconnection with the engine of an automobile represented at 1, and havingthe crank case indicated at 2," the intake manifold at 3, and thecarbureter at 4, a vacuum fuel feed device indicated in its generaloutlines at 5, and a receptacle, 6,

which constitutes with associated chambers the distinguishing part ofthis invention.

The receptacle, 6, has connections for alternately producing andrelieving a partial vacuum therein, said connections in the contion thatthe alternation of conditions of partial vacuum and normal atmosphericpressure 1n the partial vacuum chamber, 8,

of the vacuum fuel feed device, is produced by any one of the methodswhich is familiar 1n this class of devices. The conduit connecting saidpartial vacuum chamber with the receptacle, 6, is always open, andthereby the condition of the partial vacuum chamber, 8, is reproduced inthe receptacle, 6, wlthout other specific means for this purpose. Thereceptacle, 6, receives liquid from a plpe, 12, from the lower part ofthe crank case, and communicates downwardly with a chamber, 9, fordelivery of the liquid con tents of the receptacle, 6, into saidchamber, 9, a check valve, 9*, being provided at the discharge, whichcheck valve is adapted to be opened by gravity flow of the liquid fromthe receptacle, 6, into the chamber, 9, and to be seated by the suctionalternately operating in said receptacle, 6. Said chamber, 9, has anatmosphere inlet at 9, which is preferably provided with a check valve,9, opening inwardly and adapted to be held seated by any pressure whichmay be developed in said chamber in excess of atmospheric pressure. Insaid chamber, 9, below the point of delivery of the liquid thereintofrom the receptacle, 6, there is located. a filtering member, 10,designed and adapted for separating solid foreign substances from theliquid. This filteringmember may be of any material suitable for thatpurpose, such a woven-wire cloth and the like. .It is preferably formedas a slide, comprising a frame upon which the filtering cloth is mountedand stretched, said slide being insertible into its operative positionin said chamber through a lateral opening, 9", in the chamber Wall, sothat it may be readily withdrawn for cleansing, suitable means beingprovided for adapting it to close. air-tight the opening through whichit is inserted, such as providing its head or outer end, 9,

with a compressible facing, I 9 seating against the outer surface of:the chamber, and providing a button, 11', for holding it' tightlyclosed.

In the chamber, 9, below the filtering slide member, 10, there ismounted a heating member, 13, which is most conveniently formed byextending a branch,.-13f, of the engine exhaust ,pipe through saidchamber,

- 9, and inclosing it within'saidchamber in a partly insulating sleeve,14:, filling the infter-space between said sleeve and pipe with asbestosor like insulating material. From' the lower part of the chamber, 9, aconduit, 15, leads back to the engine crank case, discharging thereintoat a level above the point at which the pipe leads therefrom. From ahigher point in said chamber, 9, a vapor the chamber, 9, to be condensedon the way to the chamber, 24, and to be delivered into said chamber inliquid condition. Some vapor of water may also accompany the gasolenevapor and be condensed on the way to the chamber, 24. For the purpose ofquickly separatmg the gasolene from the water, the familiar expedient ofstraining the mixture of gasolene and water through a chamois screen isemployed, and for that purpose there is shown such a chamois screen orfilter, 18, mounted in the upper part of the chamber, 24, forming apocket into which the mouth of the siphon discharge pipe, 27, from thecondenser, 17, dips, so that the liquid delivered through said mouthmakes impact on the chamois pocket with the result that the gasolene,although lighter than the water, goes through the chamois,

while the water is detained, and overflows the margin of the chamois,escaping through a pipe, 28, which terminates near the bottom of thechamber, 24. The gasolene contents of the chamber, 24, arriving thereinby passing through the chamois screen, passes out by the pipe, 19, whichopens in the chamber, 24, and a distance above the bottom judgedadequate to afi'orda suflicient trappage for the waterwhich' mayaccumulate therein, and which may be drawn ofl through cock, 30. Thegasolene passing out through the pipe, 19, may be conveyed either backto the. gasolene supply tank,*26, or to the car bu'reter, as indicatedby the pipes, 19 and- 19 respectively, a three-way valve, 20, beingprovided at the point at which the .conduit branches for one dischargeor the other.'

It will be readily understood that the vacuum fuel feed device is not anecessity to this invention butthat when it is present, its partialvacuum chamber may be'utilized in the manner above described formaintaining the partial vacuum and atmospheric obvious that in theabsence of the-vacuum iuel feed device, other means than the connectiondescribed between the chamber, 6,

and the partial vacuum chamber of saidvacuum fuel feed device may beemployed for producing the alternation of partial vacuum and atmosphericpressure in the chamber, 6.

It will be obvious that the condensing of the vaporized gasolene may bedispensed with, the condenser being in that case omitted, and thegasolene vapor conducted directly to the carbureter, as indicated by apipe, 22, which may be present, even when the condenser is employed, butbeing provided with a shut-ofl' valve, 23, to be closed when it ispreferred to condense the gasolene vapor before returning it to the pathof service in the engine.

I claim 1. In combination with an internal combustion engine, a liquidreceptacle at a higher level than the crank case of such englne;connectionsfor alternately producing and relieving a partial vacuum inthe upper part conduit leading from the upper part of said chamber.

2. In combination'with an internal com-v bustion engine, a liquidreceptacle at a higher level than the crank case of such engine;connections for alternately producing and relieving a partial vacuum inthe upper part of such receptacle; a conduit from the lower part of thecrank case discharging into said receptacle; a chamber into which saidreceptacle discharges its liquid contents; a branch of the engineexhaust pipe extending through said chamber; a liquid conduit leadingfrom the lower part of said chamber,

and a vapor conduit leading from the upper part thereof.

3. In combination with an internal combustion engine, a liquidreceptacle at a higher level than the crank case of such-engine;connections for alternately producing and relieving a partial vacuum 1nthe upper part ofsuch receptacle; a conduit from the lower part of thecrank case discharging into said receptacle; a chamber into which saidreceptacle discharges its liquid contents; a

heating member in said chamber; a liquid conduit leading-from the lowerpart of said' chamber back to the crank case; a vapor conduit leadingfrom the upper part of said chamber; a liquid-fuel receptacle to whichsaid vapor conduit leads, and a condenser interposed in said conduit.pressure in the chamber, 6; and it will be 4. In combination with aninternal combustion engine, 'a liquid receptacle at a higher level thanthe crank case of such engine; connections for alternately producing andrelieving a partial vacuum in the upper part of such receptacle; aconduit from the lower part of the crank case discharging into saidreceptacle; a chamber into which said receptacle discharges its liquidcontents; a heating member in said chamber; a liquid conduit leadingfrom the lower part of said chamber back to the crank case; a vaporconduit leading from the upper part of said chamber; a receptacle towhich said vapor conduit leads; a filtering partition in said receptacleadapted to separate the condensed water and condensed liquid fuel, anddischarge conduits leading respectively from above and from below saidfiltering partition.

5. In combination with an internal combustion engine, a liquidreceptacle at a higher level than the crank case of such engine;connections for alternately producing and relieving a partial vacuum inthe upper part of such receptacle; a conduit from the lower part of thecrank case discharging into said receptacle; a chamber into which saidreceptacle discharges its liquid contents; a filterin screen forseparating solid matters from tl ie liquid, positioned in said chamberfor discharge thereonto of the liquid from the receptacle above; aheating element in said chamber below the filtering screen therein; aliquid discharge conduit leading from the lower part of said chamberback to the crank case; a vapor conduit leading from a higher point insaid chamber, and a condenser mto which said vapor conduit discharges.

In vtestimon whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at hicago, Illinois,this 1st day of February, 1917.

WEBB JAY.

